Former Javelina Juan Castillo finds himself back where he started

Castillo brings lessons from his playing days to NFL position

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo says he still thinks back to lessons learned as a Javelina.

Castillo's move to defensivecoordinator for the Eaglestakes him back to his football roots.

KINGSVILLE - Most football fans were skeptical when the Philadelphia Eagles promoted offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive coordinator.

But for Castillo, the move to the defensive side of the ball is a return to his football beginnings.

"When I was at Texas A&M-Kingsville, I played defense and I coached defense," Castillo said. "Coach Ron Harms took a chance on me coaching the offensive line. So for me, it's really about going back to where I started. It's like I've been training to be a defensive coordinator for a long time by studying what they're trying to do."

The Port Isabel native played linebacker and defensive end for the Javelinas from 1978 to 1980 and was part of their last NAIA national championship team in 1979.

"Coach (Andy) Reid has always known I'm a defensive guy," Castillo said. "All those years of watching tape and talking football and learning things from coach (Jim) Johnson helped me in getting the job."

After his playing career in Kingsville, Castillo coached the Javelinas offensive line from 1982 to 1985 and from 1990 to 1994. Castillo was back in Kingsville on Tuesday as a guest speaker as part of A&M-Kingsville's lectureship series.

"It's a great honor to be back here. I'm glad to be able to see a lot of my old friends," Castillo said. "Coming back here motivates me and brings me back to where it all started. Texas A&M-Kingsville is a big part of who Juan Castillo is."

After coaching at A&M-Kingsville, Castillo moved on to the NFL where he continued to learn while climbing the coaching ranks but still thinks back to lessons learned as a Javelina.

"I remember all the good coaches we had here," Castillo said. "The ones that worked you hard and had something special."

Castillo says he uses some of his old Javelinas coaches' motivational techniques with his NFL players.

"I wonder how those guys were able to work us so hard yet we still loved them," Castillo said. "Guys like Robert Young and Andrew Crawford, those guys worked us like a dog, but off the field we loved them like a dad."

It did not take long for the former player to realize what the secret was to his mentors' success.

"They actually cared about me," Castillo said. "That's the kind of coach I am. My guys are important to me not just as football players but as a person."

Castillo also specifically mentioned Reid, Johnson, Jon Gruden and Ray Rhodes as coaches that have influenced his coaching style in the NFL.

"I've been fortunate enough to work with some great coaches," Castillo said.

Coming from a Division II school also gives Castillo an added advantage in the professional coaching ranks.

"I know how to develop players, and developing players in the NFL is very important," Castillo said. "The players that came here had to develop. We couldn't just say we made a mistake in recruiting. The players that came here had to play."

Even though the former Javelinas standout lives in Philadelphia these days, he says South Texas still is a special place for him.

"Everybody in South Texas is my family. Every time I come home I get motivated," Castillo said. "It's about us. It's about South Texas, the valley, my race; we're all doing it together."